[LETCHWORTH: Every year, each of Hertfordshire's county councillors are provided with a Locality Budget to spend on projects in their local area.

Prior to the Covid pandemic, councillors were each given a total of £10,000 per year to spend on projects which promote the social, economic, or environmental wellbeing of their local area.

Recognising the ongoing challenges, the county faces as a result of the pandemic, Locality Budget funding was increased in 2020 to £15,000 per councillor, to help support Covid related schemes.

This extra funding has been continued in 2021/2, and Locality Budgets have continued to make a positive difference to the lives of Hertfordshire's residents and communities.

The additional element of the funding is part of a wider Covid Recovery Fund of just under £10 million to support Hertfordshire to build back better based on cleaner, greener, and healthier aims.

The following grants have been made in recent months by Hertfordshire county councillors to help worthwhile causes.

So, read on for how Letchworth councillor Tina Bhartwas has helped community groups in our area

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The Living Room – Sponsor a chair and help pay for services

Cllr Tina Bhartwas has approved a Locality Budget Scheme grant of £1500 to help sponsor a chair in one of the Living Room groups and pay for services for a person living with addiction to reach recovery.

Cllr Bhartwas said: "The Living Room supports local people in Letchworth and across the county living with addiction to rebuild their lives, their relationships and make a positive contribution to their community.

"The funding will sponsor a group Chair facilitating client's access to CBT and a solution focused therapy to maintain motivation, manage triggers and sustain recovery.

"I know the impact of addiction on family and friends all too well and am glad that additional support is offered to others affected too."

Hertfordshire Community Foundation – Hertfordshire Afghan Arrivals and Refugees fund

Cllr Tina Bhartwas has approved a Locality Budget Scheme grant of £500 to help fund community and voluntary groups and provide support that will meet the identified needs of Afghan arrivals and refugees settled in Hertfordshire

Cllr Bhartwas said: "I have received an overwhelming outpouring of support from residents of Letchworth North and it has been truly wonderful to see the whole of Hertfordshire coming together to support Afghan arrivals in their time of need.

"I am pleased to contribute to the community and voluntary groups, providing them with support from provision of essential items to longer-term employability skills, language skills, family support and community integration."

Open Art Box CIC – Planning and preparation of art boxes and materials

Cllr Tina Bhartwas has approved a Locality Budget Scheme grant of £800 to help pay for the planning and preparation of the boxes as well as art and craft materials, and the delivery of them, to the participants, door to door and countywide. The boxes are an ongoing part of the Open Art Boxes programme.

Cllr Bhartwas said: "Open Art Box CIC continue to enhance the lives of local people living with dementia and their families and carers throughout the Covid-19 crisis through the delivery of home art boxes.

"It was a pleasure to meet some of the participants recently at the North Herts Museum and I am delighted that this grant will enable continuation of the boxes for another 10 weeks."

Lister Hospital - purchasing equipment to enhance heart testing and monitoring

Cllr Tina Bhartwas has approved a Locality Budget Scheme grant of £1,500 to help purchase three pieces of equipment that will enhance heart testing and monitoring for local children at the Lister Hospital.

Cllr Bhartwas said: "I am pleased to contribute towards support for babies and children undergoing cardiac treatment at the Lister Hospital.

"A GE Vivid Cardiovascular Ultrasound machine will mean that local children with undiagnosed potential congenital heart disease will be able to access state of the art technology locally.

"My heartfelt thanks go to the paediatric and maternity teams that care for these families during this time."